Policies & Programs

Launched in January 2001, The French National Health and Nutrition Program aims to improve the health of the entire French population by acting on one of its major determinants, nutrition. To achieve the four main objectives of this plan (to reduce obesity, to increase physical activity, to improve eating habits, to reduce the prevalence of […]

A lot of consumers think that more respect to the environment makes better food. For example 24% of the French people think the government should promote products that protect the environment. Following this demand and the need to protect our natural resources, ambitious policies were drawn and the organic production sector has been growing really […]

On October 2, 2011, new legislation was passed in France concerning the nutritional balance of lunches served in schools. Several new rules concerning the nutritional quality and the quantity of some products will be implemented in cafeterias serving more than 80 people. Fried food will not be served more than once a week. Fat and […]

A NEED FOR CHANGE In just a few decades our horizon has changed. Global warming, exhaustion of our most vital resources and damage to biodiversity have erupted from the domain of purely scientific observation into the social and economic realms. These new global realities can no longer be ignored by public action. Agriculture and forestry […]

The Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), created in the 1950s, is the most important European policy. It has evolved with society, from helping to achieve food security after World War II, to promoting more respect for the environment, better food safety, phytosanitary and animal welfare standards today. It is more than an agricultural policy – it […]

All professionals in France whose jobs involve phytopharmaceuticals, more commonly referred to as pesticides, must obtain an official license beforehand called “Certiphyto.” This ambitious global certification program is estimated to affect more than 800,000 workers in France, according to the French Ministry of Agriculture. Pesticides, such as Insecticides, herbicides and fungicides, are used to protect […]

I. Agriculture is a strategic sector for the European Union (EU) European agriculture ensures food security Food security was one of the priorities set for the common agricultural policy (CAP) after the Second World War. This objective is still a priority today: agricultural production will need to increase in the coming years to meet the […]

There is a new label on the shelves in France. Stéphane Le Foll, French Minister of Agriculture, presented this “Haute Valeur Environnementale” (High Environmental Value) logo as a means of recognizing agrifood farms and establishments that meet the highest environmental standards of production. The logo will appear on all products that come from such certified […]

“Territorial anchorage” refers to the establishment of a reliable local food system that caters to and develops the agricultural predisposition of a specific land. The idea is that by taking full advantage of the natural strengths of a locality, producers will intersect in a more intimate with consumers and everyone in between, thereby reconnecting […]

French Minister of Agriculture Stéphane Le Foll joined around 160 people from the Ministry of Agriculture and Ministry of Health on November 12th in Paris to discuss progress on the fight against antibiotic resistance in humans and animals. This, the third seminar of its kind, was organized by the French General Directorate for Food – […]